Artificial bait



De@ 2, 1952 J. D. suMMlTT, SR 2,619,762

ARTIFICIAL BAIT Filed Jan. 5, 1951 INVENTOR. (/osfP/ 50M/w77', Si?.

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 l UNITED STATI-:s r

ARTIFICIAL BAIT Joseph D. Summitt, Sr., Durant, Okla. Application January 5, 1951, Serial No. 204,530

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in artificial bait and in method of constructing such bait, the primary object of this invention being to provide an artificial bait, simulative of a beetle, having a molded plastic body, which is provided with hook attaching means, and with means mounting rubber feelers and a rubber tail portion on the body. f

Another object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive and easily constructed artificial bait, which includes a molded plastic body portion, having means for receiving a resilient ring, which dependably engages the body portion and is formed with integral feelers and a tail portion.

These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, the preferred embodiment of which is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a top plan View;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a. fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

foval body portion I2 which is molded from a suitable plastic material. The body portion is formed with a peripheral groove I4 which is located midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion and which divides the body portion into a bottom section I6, having a semi-circular cross section, and a top section I8, which is triangular in cross section, as seen in Figure 4.

A resilient stretchable oval shaped ring 2) is provided and is securely anchored in the groove by contraction thereof in the groove, so that the outer periphery 22 of the ring is flush with the sides of the body portion. A plurality of integral feelers 24 project from the opposing sides 2B and 28 of the ring, and a fan shaped integral tail portion 30 is formed on the rear end of the ring and connected thereto by an anchoring portion 32. The tail portion is fan shaped and includes a plurality of coextensive strips 34. In forming the feelers and tail portion, the ring and tail portion are cut from a, section of suitable resilient material, with the feelers being similarly cut from the material. The tail strips 34 are formed by providing a, series of slits in the tail forming portion.

A longitudinally elongated plate 36 is secured to the undersurface of the bottom section I6 of the body portion and has its opposing ends afxed to the bottom section by fastening screws 38. 'I'he middle part of the plate engages the undersurface of the bottom section and seats 4i! and 42 are formed in the plate, adjacent its opposite ends, for receiving conventional gang hooks 44 and 46, so that the gang hooks depend from the bottom section and are vertically arranged, with the feelers and tail being horizontally arranged, as the bait is moved through a body of water.

A forwardly curving arcuate head 48 is formed integrally with the top section i8, at the forward end thereof, and is connected thereto by a reduced neck portion 5I). If desired, beads 52 and 54 may be suitably embedded in the head, adjacent the opposing ends thereof, to simulate eyes.

A screw eye 56 is afxed to the head portion, intermediate the opposing ends thereof for connecting thereto a spinner shaft 58. The spinner shaft is formed at one end with a loop 60 engaged through the screw eye, the loop having a free end 62 bent securably around the shank of the shaft. A loop 64 is formed on the other end of the shaft for the reception of the line 66, and a conventional spinner 68 is rotatably disposed on the shaft and spaced from the end 62 by beads 10.

In use, the artificial bait will be moved through the water, with the feelers extending laterally from the opposite sides, the tail portion extending rearwardly from the rear end of the body portion and being horizontally disposed, the feelers and tail tanning out over the surface of the water and the hooks depending from the body portion. It will thus be seen that the bait will present the appearance of a live beetle, since the feelers and tail will flex, as the body portion is moved through the water.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

l. In an artificial bait, a, body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface formed with a peripheral groove intermediate and spaced from said top and bottom surfaces and extending along opposite sides of said body from one end to the other end of the latter, a stretchable resilient ring encircling said body portion and contracted in the groove, and feelers on and projecting from said ring along opposite sides of said body portion.

2. In an artificial bait, a substantial oval body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, a peripheral groove formed in said body portion intermediate and spaced from said top and bottom surfaces, said groove extending along the opposite sides of and the opposite ends of said body portion, and a resilient stretohable ring circumposed peripherally on said body portion and contracted in said groove, said ring having integral exble feelers on the opposite sides thereof projecting laterally outwardly from the sides of the body portion, and an integral flexible tail portion projecting rearwardly from the rear end of said body portion.

JOSEPH D. SUMA/ETT, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Number 21 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hardy July 19, 1904 Campbell May 28, 1918 Cassedy, Sr. July 8, 1919 Heddon Apr. 30, 1929 Wright et al. July 7, 1931 Sorenson Jan. 7, 1936 Schumann Jan. 16, 1940 Arbogast Nov. 1, 1949 Rauh Dec. 20, 1949 Gambill Sept, 26, 1950 

